Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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440. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the Tusla register for early childhood care and education still has many services that closed over the past two years still on its register; if the register is not showing a true reflection of the number of childcare facilities actually open in Ireland; and the reason this can happen. [7196/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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441. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the review of ECCE services will be completed. [7197/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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On 15th September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers. Together for Better aims to transform the sector and my Department and I are committed to working constructively, collaboratively and positively with providers towards a goal of delivering early learning and childcare for the public good. This collaboration with providers is reflected in the ongoing reviews which my Department have commissioned.

Independent consultants fromStranmillis University College Belfasthave been appointed to conduct a review of the ECCE programme on behalf of myDepartment. The review will involve engagement with a range of stakeholders, including providers, early years educators, parents and children. Data will be gathered through a range of methods, including surveys, interviews, focus groups and observation. The review will be completed by end 2023 and the findings will inform work to put the ECCE programme on a statutory footing.

Separate to this review of the ECCE Programme, my Department has commissioned Frontier Economicsto complete an independent financial review of sessional early learning and childcare services; many of which are ECCE programme providers. In recent weeks, communications have been sent to the sector to encourage providers to participate in this review and services have been recruited to take part through an Expression of Interest.

This independent review involves an in-depth review of participant service’s financial situations through the provision of detailed information on income and expenditure and an analysis of the impact of the early learning and childcare funding streams. The exact design of instruments will be undertaken by Frontier Economics but will likely involve qualitative and quantitative data, including information gathering sessions with services, one-on-one discussions with services, analysis of service profiles, and full sight of financial information.

It is expected for this independent financial review to be completed within Quarter 2 of 2023 and for the final report to be submitted by the beginning of Q3 2023.